My love for plants combined with my unfortunately limited car space during my four-hour drive to college led me to take an innovative approach to incorporating greenery into my dorm room. When I brainstormed how to transplant dozens of pots of plants to my freshman dorm, I turned to propagation.
Through propagation methods, my plants adorn my desk and miscellaneous surfaces, survive the drive and best of all, are space-efficient. Propagation is a simple process of nurturing the growth of new plants from the cuttings of other established plants. The exact method of propagation can vary from plant to plant, but the general process remains the same, with four distinct steps. As I reflect on my college experience, I almost feel like I am in the middle of my own propagation process. Growth throughout college mirrors propagation as this environment nurtures independence and instills knowledge in a young adult demographic, many of whom are on their own for the first time.
As a college student, studying away from home, I am like the philodendrons, pothos and monstera cuttings on my windowsill, learning to be on my own.
- Dependency on the original plant
Before a cutting is propagated, this piece is dependent on a whole plant. It is a part of a unit with an elaborate root system. As it grows, it follows the directions outlined in its DNA: absorbing the sun, making sugars, receiving nutrients from the soil and producing oxygen.
As children, we learn to mimic the patterns outlined to us by our families and households. Together, the people in our lives comprise a central unit in which we grow and learn to be ourselves while taking inspiration from others. I was lucky enough to have a nurturing home that provided a stable environment and sufficient access to nutrients. But like plants, not everyone is provided with the same care. Some struggle and work harder to receive what is necessary to sustain themselves. Plant limbs and stems persevere despite hardship, which is reflected in human nature, as we are always angling toward the light and grasping at the future. Every household and plant is different. They are influenced by their care, physically and developmentally through relationships or how they learned to grow.
- Preparation
The time spent before leaving home for college is filled with preparation. You make checklists and plans. You fill boxes and arrange transportation. Deciphering what belongings to bring and what to leave behind, then setting up your room while knowing your family will leave you on your own can feel crazy and weird. It can feel like you are being cut away from the life you are used to.
Procuring a cutting to propagate is the same sharp separation. In plants like pothos or monsteras, a cut is made right above a node, which is a small bump along the stem where a root could begin to grow. This sharp cut physically detaches the portion of the plant from its original system. Without any roots, it is left to grow its own, just like those leaving home, the plant is uprooted.
But college encourages us to grow new roots and make connections. When propagating, there are three main ways to encourage root growth in a new cutting. Selecting one is like choosing a path to follow to your future. How are you going to get there?
The first is using a moist surface like a damp paper towel. This works well with succulent plants. The second is placing it into damp soil with a humid environment to grow roots. The third method is to place the cutting into a container of water. I prefer the third option because a clear container allows you to see the root growth, a representation of your progress and how far you have come. Just as not every process works for every plant, not every method will appeal to you, so do not be afraid to search for the best strategy through which you can thrive.
- Learning to grow on your own
Adaptation is a process applicable to plants and young adults. A plant adjusting to a new environment mirrors a young adult situating themselves someplace new, often with unfamiliar surroundings and routines. This process of adaptation relies on learning new things about yourself, the world around you and relying on basic principles that you can keep close when everything feels new. There have been many times in college when I have reflected on small lessons shared with me by my mother, like: “Do not take DayQuil and Tylenol at the same time.” So while we adapt to our new situations, we can fall back on the fundamentals, just like how plants attempt the same routine, following their instincts to continue to grow, despite new environmental factors.
Learning is a process of trial and error. We learn what is conducive to our growth and what is harmful. But in order to grow, we must branch out and try new things. Each accomplishment is to be celebrated and cherished, like a new leaf. New friends, lessons and achievements are symbols of growth and perseverance. We can flourish without an elaborate root system, but if we are not open to change, we will wilt.
College is a learning experience beyond the classrooms. Students are challenged to get involved in clubs and organizations, attend office hours and make new friends. Getting established in college is like learning to grow your roots. You are creating a network through which your growth is supported.
- Rooting yourself into the soil
Propagation is a cyclical process. It starts rooted in the soil, learns to grow new roots and then finds itself planted once more.
Once there is a significant root system, it might be time to put the cutting back into soil. At this point, it has learned to be independent and is able to flourish on its own, with a little help from the gardener, of course. Rooting yourself into the soil looks different for everyone. It could be flourishing in your career, starting a family or traveling the world. Your next stage and where you lay your roots has many possibilities, but in the end it is a new you.
College and propagation both produce something different from what they started out with. I am only in my second year of college, but I can tell that I am already a slightly different person than I started out as. I am still learning to grow my roots and build my independence. It is important to realize that once you are settled down in the soil, you are not stuck. Plants change pots all the time, so follow that path that is conducive to your growth.
I know not everyone has a green thumb, and trying to grow a plant, let alone yourself, can be daunting. But do not let that stray you from cultivating your personal growth.